Oculus confirms Android-powered Rift virtual reality

Oculus VR has confirmed that it plans to create an Android-powered mobile version of its Rift virtual reality headset.

Speaking to an audience at GamesBeat’s 2013 conference, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe said his company is planning a near simultaneous launch for both PC and Android.

“We have some exciting plans on the mobile VR side as the PC VR side,” said Iribe as recorded by VentureBeat.

“We’re really looking at hitting the consumer market. We’re very excited about what we’re seeing. Skeptical about how good mobile VR could be on such a small platform. It’s pretty incredible what [John Carmack has] been able to do.”

The move to an Android-powered standalone has been pushed by CTO John Carmack, who told Engadget earlier this month that this solution would have the major benefit of cutting the cord that connects the standard Rift to the PC.

"The way I believe it’s going to play out is you will eventually have a head-mounted display that probably runs Android, as a standalone system, that has a system-on-a-chip that’s basically like what you have in mobile phones," Carmack said.

It’s unclear from the reports if Iribe meant that the Android version planned for launch next year is the standalone device described by Carmack.

Oculus isn’t currently planning to bring the Kickstarter-funded headset to iOS, since Apple isn’t known for its openness to third-party hardware developers.